Flooding

by Alexandra Bosbeer

[25 January 2016] We are living in times of upheaval and crisis. Here in Europe, one of the hottest debates now in 2016 is refugees, and how many can realistically be welcomed into our societies. There are reports of attacks by crowds of drunken men on the streets, and stories of grim demonstrations against the incomers on the airwaves and in cyberspace.

Dutch politician Sander Terhuis, who himself was a refugee from Iran, points out that the rule of law means that everyone is subject to the same law – and there are not special rules for refugees. He also notes that there are cultural differences – especially, for example, with regard to respect for women – which people from cultures which don’t have those values, would have to learn.

I am currently participating in an integration course for migrants: I am learning German and German culture together with other EU nationals, refugees from war zones including Syria and Afghanistan, other people from the Middle East including an urbane, middle-aged lawyer whose professional qualifications are not recognised here, and even a young person from Belarus.

A German friend has asked me repeatedly what they might teach us regarding German culture – she says she does not know what this is. ‘What is German?’ she says. There are many things here which are new to me, and possibly even more different for people from further away: styles of conversation, insurance that one is expected to have including personal liability, the assumption that one must ask for an exemption from church tax if one is neither Catholic nor Lutheran, for example. That a photograph should be included with a job application here in Germany is shocking to me, because I think discrimination based on appearance should be avoided. Although Germany is of course fairly emancipated regarding the role of women, my husband and I have to explain regularly that we are indeed married despite not having the same surname.

The Jewish Council of Germany has pointed out that it takes time for people to be integrated and to become accustomed to the values of their new homeland, including diversity. That holds for me, too, even coming from a neighbouring country. And it holds for the Syrian school teacher who has been told he must obtain a Master’s degree in mathematics to be able to teach in a primary school here in Germany. But what is the shared culture? If my German friend does not know what it is to be German, it is not surprising that recent arrivals have not managed to take on the values. Perhaps it is time for more thorough consideration of what Europe has become, and in what direction we would like it to develop.

Masses of men

I might be a lone voice in saying that I think Angela Merkel is brave, compassionate, and simply honouring her government’s word. She daily faces masses of men who may ‘mob’ her, albeit with words and generally without inebriation. (If Europe were truly egalitarian, one might expect a few more women in our parliaments, Council chambers, and at Davos.)

Germany is one of the only countries honouring its commitment. What has changed since November? Some ascribe the refusal to implement the agreed plan to the Paris attacks. That would be very sad, if terrorism affects the humanitarian response of EU Member States to people who are in peril. We must find solutions to the causes of the flow of refugees, but barricading ourselves behind walls will only increase the divisions between cultures.